I took crayon girl and made
her digital.
Friday
Monday
smelling crayons
I got a letter from my health insurance company saying they
aren’t going to pay for something my doctor wanted done. I don’t really understand what it is except
that I think it’s already been done. Its
some sort of scan that he wanted done 3-D instead of 2-D – from what I
understand. I could be wrong. I’m going to have to fight it because I can’t
afford to pay for it. My insurance
company also declined to cover something that I’ve been on for a while that
helps with my neuropathy. It’s a
compounded cream that I put on my neck and arm and it really helps with the
numbness, loss of feeling, and not being able to carry or hold things with my
right hand. I also draw and paint with
that hand and it has helped me to be able to continue to do so. I don’t know why they refuse to cover it but
I think I’m going to have to fight that too.
The replacement they sent helps with pain but not neuropathy. I was originally put on this topical lotion
(cream, whatever) specifically for the neuropathy. If the insurance company is going to just
stop paying for things I need done what good will it be to have it and pay for
it? So frustrating.
On a more positive note, do you remember when you were a kid
and got new school supplies?
Chuck and I were at Walmart the other day and I stopped at
the crayon and colored pencil row. I
just got an urge to smell the crayons and reminisce. So I bought a box of metallic crayons and a
box of colored pencils. Then I brought
them home and played with them. First I
did an eye. Eyes are my favorite thing
to draw.
Then I drew Corey and Minion, crayons.
Then I drew a girl, crayons. When I don't look at someone
when I'm drawing or painting it's less realistic or more
cartoon-y to me.
When I was somewhere between 9 to 11 years old, my grandmother was in the
hospital.
We had to do a lot of waiting at the hospital. My mom gave me some paper, a pencil and pen,
and I found a sale booklet of wigs.
The pictures were of ladies faces with the different wig styles or hair
styles. That was when I taught myself to
draw faces and hair. I went through the
booklet and drew everyone of them. It
was actually a very good way to learn because the more you draw or paint the
better you get. I do wish I’d kept some
of the pictures just to compare. This is what it sort of looked like. It must have had at least 25 or more pictures and I drew them all.
Sunday
Happy Father's Day
Happy Father's Day to my Dad who I miss very much. I know that you are happy and without pain or fear so I am so very thankful for that. You always liked when we made things for you that said "Worlds greatest Dad" and we really meant it. If your Dad is still here hug him tight and tell him how much you love him because when he isn't here anymore you will wish you could. So I just wanted to say, "I miss you! I love you! And you will always be the "worlds greatest" Dad to me.
Monday
Thursday - June 9th,
was my 5th year anniversary since my first cancer related surgery.
I was diagnosed with stage IV metastatic breast cancer, meaning
it spread from the original sight (breast) to my bones. I originally went to the doctor because of pain
in my neck, spine. and ribs.
I’ve been doing some research since my anniversary came up
and I found this:
3. MEDIAN SURVIVAL Median survival after a metastatic
breast cancer diagnosis is three years.
I feel very blessed that I’ve passed the median survival rate!
I was planning to post an update on my cancer but instead
I’ve decided to answer a question I get asked a lot.
Why do you think you’re
doing so well?
Number one answer - should be first thing I say when someone
asks:
1.
My faith in God; my hope in God; my relationship
with God. I know some people who read
this don’t believe in God but I have for all my life. I know He is here and that He cares. When I look back over my life I can see things
that I never would have made it through without Him and I can see things He did
for me even when I wasn’t paying attention to Him. I know some people say, “Well if you believe
so strongly then why do you have cancer in the first place or why hasn’t He
healed you?” Believing in God does not give you a free pass from suffering or
pain. This isn’t heaven - this is
earth. Earth is in a fallen state
because God has allowed man the freedom of choice. I have not always chosen to do His will or
follow Him, as I should have. Here are
some links as to why pain and suffering are allowed in this world:
2.
Because of my faith I believe God allowed things
to fall into place for me to not go back to work and to go on disability. I believe if I had gone back to work I would
not be here-I believe my job would have killed me. I was a school bus driver and I drove an un-air
conditioned bus (ridiculous in the state of Florida). My bus had black mold in it and also
a leak in the oil pan that allowed fumes to go into my window. I had to have the window open so I would not
die of heat stroke. I believe the
environment I worked in, which included fumes, mold, heat and stress, caused a
lot of my health issues. I also believe
some of my tumors were caused by my cell phone.
I carried my cell phone in a pocket over my left breast where the cancer
started and I carried it in my left pants pocket where the worst tumor
grew. This last tumor caused me to have
to have a rod and bolt put in my leg because it ate 75% of the top of the femur. So in short, not returning to work has kept
me alive.
3.
I had a great doctor. My family practice doctor (also a great
doctor) sent me to the doctor she said she would go to if she were in my
position. I learned always ask your
doctor who would you go to? Or, who would you send your child to? She sent me to Dr. Lukman. Dr. Lukman always went above and beyond for
me. She was off one Friday when I had a
problem. I called her office to find out
what I needed to do. I was told she was
off but then a few hours later, I can’t remember if she called me or her nurse
did, but I was given an answer to what I needed to know or do. I don’t remember exactly what it was all
about because it was a few years ago. I
just know her nurse told me the doctor spent hours of her off time finding a
solution for me. She also kept track of
when my insurance was paid up and would have all my tests scheduled so I
wouldn’t have to pay out of pocket expenses.
And last but not least she researched options for me and found a
treatment that she said would “make my bones the strongest in Florida”. She found a plan where I would only have to
pay 25$ per shot. This “shot” would have
cost 10’s of thousands of dollars if I had to pay it out of pocket. The billing lady showed me it cost my insurance
over $65,000 per shot – which is absolutely ridiculous and I was getting it
once a month.
I meet my new oncologist this week I hope
and pray he is as good a doctor as she is.
4.
I’ve had a lot of support and love from my
family. I don’t know how people make it
through something like this #1 without faith in God and #2 without support and
love from family and friends. My family
has helped through prayers, driving me, getting me things I need, sending me on
trips, feeding me and financially. I
wouldn’t have been able to get some of my medical, surgical, or pharmaceutical
needs met otherwise. I appreciate any
and all help we’ve been given and can’t believe the generosity we have been
shown. I give God the credit for putting
different needs on people’s hearts to help us when they have.
Those are the answers to
the question, “Why are you doing so well?”
I will do a quick medical update. Since my initial diagnosis
I’ve had fractures in my neck, ribs and my left leg - which are all healed- but
my ribs never stopped hurting. In
November I had my 6 month scans and tests and they showed new cancer on my
sternum, skull (where I put the cell phone up to my ear), shoulder, ribs and
spine. I was treated with radiation on my
shoulder and low spine. I was taken off
the once a month bone strengthener shot (Xgeva) because, I was told, if there
is new cancer it’s no longer working.
The radiation helped with some of the pain but I’m still having problems
with my shoulder. I had more tests last
month which I haven’t talked to the doctor about but I read them and they show
two more new spots, ribs and left femur at the top. I don’t know what the plan will be for that.
Again, to everyone who
has been praying for me or helped me in any way – thank you, thank you, thank
you!!!!
I can't post without photos. Lasagne because I don't want
to cook for a couple of days.
And, deer in the neighborhood. They look like
they need more food.
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